The Opposite House: A Novel — page 48: what you’re looking at

Machine-transcribed from the original scan — historical spelling and the odd misread are preserved.

The Opposite Flouse. 43 unlike to be united. You are the careless child of the South, who must always laugh, sing and dance ; but I have become a man. I have had my days of pleasure ; perhaps devoted myself too completely to it. Now all that is over, and my future watch- word is ‘Duty,’ which is more sacred to me than all the thousand hours which I dreamed away in your arms—at your feet. Iam no longer the Trau- gott Gerrald of former days; no longer the easily captivated boy. I have become my own master, and must give an account of my deeds and conduct to myself and to my beloved dead.” The dancer looked at him with an expression of mingled pity and derision. “So you have really taken Madam Gertrude’'s death so much to heart? Good heavens, what a contrast to the way in which you regarded it a few weeks ago! Then the aforesaid lady was the only obstacle to our union. I could almost admire your grief and energy, if they were only applied to a dif- ferent purpose ; guelle horreur to be such a Prince of the Mill, as people nickname you, forever among meal-bags. Ha, ha, ha!’ She fairly shook with laughter, and was charming in this mood also. ‘Traugott’s face crimsoned to the very brow. “You sneer at me for having begun to work and learned to despise myself. I regret that I let mat- Comicboolk<s C@ 5}